The 2026 World Cup, the first staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada and the first to feature 48 teams, has reached its midpoint. After every team completed its second of three group matches, several nations have already secured passage to the knockout round — yet the tournament is far from settled. A full third round of group games is still to be played before the 32-team knockout bracket is confirmed.

Where the tournament actually stands

The expanded format splits 48 teams into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a 32-team round of 32. Crucially, the group stage is not complete: with two of three matchdays played, ESPN notes that roughly two dozen group fixtures remain. Some teams have mathematically clinched a place; many spots, and most group standings, are still undecided.

Among those already through are defending champions Argentina, who sealed top spot in Group J, along with Germany, the United States and Mexico, with co-hosts Canada also reported to have advanced, according to Yahoo Sports.

Host nations on the front foot

All three host countries have enjoyed strong starts. The United States followed an opening win with a 2-0 victory over Australia to top its group and reach the knockout round. Mexico, under Javier Aguirre, added a 1-0 win over South Korea to its opening result and also advanced.

Canada produced one of the stories of the round. After a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina — the country's first-ever point at a World Cup — Canada thrashed Qatar 6-0, its first World Cup win, per Wikipedia's Group B summary.

Messi and Ronaldo write new chapters

The round belonged in part to two veterans. Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, moving past Germany's Miroslav Klose to 18 career goals, ESPN reported. The win also secured Argentina's place in the knockouts.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, scored in Portugal's rout of Uzbekistan to become the first player to find the net at six different World Cups, per ESPN. France's Kylian Mbappé also reached a milestone, a double against Iraq taking him level with Klose on 16 career World Cup goals.

Surprises and strugglers

Not every favorite has impressed. England were held to a goalless draw by Ghana despite dominating possession, while a number of bigger names are still chasing the results they need. With a final round of group games to come, several heavyweight nations must improve quickly or risk an early exit.

For now, the picture is one of a tournament in motion: a handful of teams safely through, others on the brink, and the knockout bracket still to be drawn. The decisive third matchday will determine which 32 sides survive the World Cup's largest-ever group phase.